Coal pinning and breaking machine



Jan. 30, 1934. A. J. LAFAYETTE, JR 1,945,322

COAL PINNING AND BREAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 (Ittomeg Jan. 30, 1934. A. J. LAFAYETTE, JR 1,945,322

COAL PINNING AND BREAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1932 5 Sheets-Sheet 2 nventor A. JL afayeli (Ittomeg Jan. 30, 1934. A. J. LAFAYETTE, JR 1,945,322

COAL PINNING AND BREAKING MACHINE Filed Dec. 29, 1932 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 nventor A. JLa/fa ye J Gttomeg Patented Jan. 30, 1934 COAL PINNING AND BREAKING MACHINE Alphonse Joseph Lafayette, Jia, Pittsburg, Kans.

Application December 29, 1932 Serial No. 649,437

5 Claims.

This invention relates to pinning andbreaking machines and among other objects, aims to pr'o vide an improved machine especially well suited for use in strip coal mines, but also adaptable to ice harvesting, stone quarrying and the mining of certain ores and conglomerates.

In the accompanying drawings illustrating a preferred embodiment of the invention,

Fig. 1 is a front elevation of the machine;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation;

Fig. 3 is a vertical section showing only the forward or pin end of the machine; and

Fig. 4 is a plan view partly in horizontal section.

Referring particularly to the drawings, there is shown a machine comprising a frame or chassis" 5 which is propelled by a pair of crawlers 6 of standard construction which are driven from a power unit 7. In electrically operated mines, the power unit will be an electric motor, but otherwise it will be an industrial gasoline engine. The operator will sit on seat 8 and contrial the crawlers and other working parts to be described to eifect the results for which the machine was designed. The mechanisms for individually or simultaneously connecting the crawlers with the power unit and for braking the crawlers, being of standard automotive design, will not be described.

The pinning or drilling through the coal or other material is effected by means of a series of vertical pins or drills 20 arranged in a row, so that a series of alined holes are dug. The pins are of special tool steel, with points appropriately shaped for the material being worked on. As shown in Fig. 3, the pins are guided and held by a beam 21 which is vertically slidable in guides 22 at its ends, said guides being fixed to the frame 5. Each of the pins 20 has a shoulder 23 intermediate its ends, and the slidable beam 21 rests 01' tends to rest on the shoulders of the several pins. Thus a substantially constant thrust from beam 21 (and the parts connected with it, as will be described) is imposed longitudinally on the pins, tending to force them through the material. Only as the shoulders 23 are moved below the beam 21 is this thrust temporarily absent, and this occurs only when one or more of the pins meets less resistance from the material and slides down until it is lower than the others.

The pins are adapted to be struck on their upper ends by hammers 24 (Fig. 1) which reciprocate in vertical guides 25 fast to a slidable beam 26 which is secured to beam 21 so as to form an assembly therewith. To prevent thepins from falling off the machine, shoulders 23 are provided near their upper ends, said shoulders en'- gaging the top of beam 21. Obviously, when beam 21 is elevated, by means to be described, 6 0 all of the pins 20 will be raised clear of the coal or other material, and the machine may then be propelled without interference from object's near the ground. As beam 21 is raised, beam t, 26 is elevated also, hence the hammers 24 are 6% always above the upper ends of the pins, in position to strike them to deliver shattering blows. to the material, whatever the height adjustment of the beam 21 may be. I

All the hammers 24 are reciprocated simul taneously by means of a single power-driven shaft 2'7 driven by a motor 28 through pinion 29 and gear 30. Instead of this separate power plant, shaft 27 may be driven from a belt o r m sprocket chain (not shown) actuated by the pri- 78" mary power unit 7, as through a power take-01f (not shown). Shaft 27 is carried by a beam 31 secured to and above -beam26 vertically slidab le, like beams 26 and 21, on the frame 5 Bearings 32, supported on top of beam 31, are provided 86 for shaft 2'7. I p

Secured on shaft 2'7 are a series of bevelgears 33, which, as shown in Figs. 3 and 4, drive bevel gears 34 fast to stub shafts 35 rotating in bearings 36 secured on top of beam 31. The stub 83" shafts 35 drive crank disks 37 which carry crank pins 38 to which connecting rods 39 are connected; and the lower ends of the connecting rods are rigidly secured to the central portions M of leaf springs 40, which are bowshaped. The 96"" ends of leaf springs 40 carry the outer ends of links 41 which are preferably loop-shaped, while the inner ends of said links are pivotally connected by straps 42 to the opposite sides of hammers 24.

It will be clear that as shaft 27 is rotated, hammers 24 will be rapidly reciprocated and will strike the tops of pins 20. Leaf springs 40 tend to raise the hammers and give a certain flexibility to the drive which is highly desirable for 166 operating reasons. The hammers each have a free up and down movement, yet deliver smart blows to the pins until the pins break through the stratum, when shoulders 23 will rest on beam 21 and the hammers will no longer reach the tops of the pins.

Vertical adjustment of beam 21 is eifected' through cables 43 secured by eye-bolts 44 to beam 31 at its opposite ends, said beams being secured together. Cables 43 pass over guide sheaves 45, Hi

46 on the top of frame 5 (Fig. 1) and extend down to a drum 4'7 (Figs. 2 and 4) being wrapped around the same at opposite ends. Drum 47 is mounted on a shaft 48 rotating in bearings 49 (Fig. 2) secured on a part of frame 5, and a worm gear 50, driven by worm 51, is secured to shaft 48. Worm 51 is driven through shaft 52 and universal joint 53 from a gear train 54 connected to the power unit 7. A clutch 55, operated by lever 56, provides means to connect or disconnect the drum 47 from shaft 48, and a brake 5'7, controlled by lever 58, holds the drum in any position, and through cables 43, holds the assembly comprising beams 21, 26 and 31 and parts carried thereby.

The described machine will break large blocks or lumps of material from the stratum in situ, as it may be propelled forwardly after the pins have been driven through the stratum. It is highly useful in strip coal mines, as it will greatly reduce the percentage of slack or fines, thus making the mined coal much more valuable commercially.

Obviously, the present invention is not restricted to the particular embodiment thereof herein shown and described. Moreover, it is not indispensable that all the features of the invention be used conjointly since they may be employed advantageously in various combinations and sub-combinations.

What I claim is:-

1. A pinning and breaking machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a guided beam movable vertically along the frame; a plurality of vertical pins movable freely through the beam but guided thereby, each of said pins having a shoulder whereby the beam may engage the several pins and thus impose its weight on them; a plurality of vertically acting hammers adapted to strike the upper ends of the pins; and poweractuated means to actuate the hammers.

2. A pinning and breaking machine comprising. in combination, a frame; a guided beam movable vertically along the frame; a plurality of vertical pins movable freely through the beam but guided thereby, each of said pins having a shoulder whereby the beam may engage the several pins and thus impose its weight on them; each of the pins having another shoulder at the upper end under which the beam engages to lift the pin; power-actuated means to lift the beam; a plurality of vertically acting hammers adapted to strike the upper ends of the pins; and poweractuated means to actuate the hammers.

3. A pinning and breaking machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a guided beam movable vertically along the frame; a plurality of vertical pins movable freely through the beam but guided thereby, each of said pins having a shoulder whereby the beam may engage the several pins and thus impose its weight on them; a plurality of vertically acting hammers adapted to strike the upper ends of the pins; and poweractuated means to actuate the hammers, comprising a pair of links pivotally connected to each hammer, a leaf spring connected at its ends to the outer ends of each pair of links, a connecting rod connected to each leaf spring, a crank disk connected to the connecting rod, and a single power-driven shaft to actuate the several crank disks.

'4. A pinning and breaking machine comprising, in combination, a frame; a guided beam movable vertically along the frame; a plurality of vertical pins movable freely through the beam but guided thereby, each of said pins having a shoulder whereby the beam may engage the several pins and thus impose its weight on them: a plurality of vertically acting hammers adapted to strike the upper ends of the pins; power-actuated means to lift the beam; power-actuated crawlers supporting the frame, whereby the machine may be moved from place to place; and 

